Tennis star Angela Okutoyi became the first athlete to win the Sports Personality of the year (SPOM) award.
Okutoyi, who became the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam tournament last month after winning the doubles category at Wimbledon, beat two-time world 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon, 800m World and Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir, Menengai Oilers Sevens star Dennis Abukuse and Winnie Kaburo Muthoni, who won the Africa Youth Chess Championship Under-18 title in Lusaka, Zambia to the coveted award.
The country's youngest Kenya Open champion won the award in January following her exploits at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where she advanced to the third round.
Okutoyi, 18, partnered with Netherland’s Rose Marie Nijkamp to beat the Canadian pair of Kayla Cross and Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 to win the coveted Wimbledon Junior doubles title.
The teen sensation said she is delighted to win the award for the third time in history.
In winning the July award, Okutoyi received a trophy engraved with her name and an LG Nano cell TV worth 120k.
"I am truly honoured to win this award for the third time in history and the second time in a year. I wish to thank my partner Nijkamp for her resilience through our campaign," she noted
"Being nominated alongside Kenya's long and middle distance runners and beating them is no mean achievement. A Grand Slam win has always been my dream. Now it's no longer a dream but a reality,” said an emotional Angela.
Other LG awards winners this year include junior WRC3 contender McRae Kimathi (February), Japan’s Nagoya Marathon winner Ruth Chepng’etich (March), Boston Marathon men’s winner Evans Chebet (April), national women's volleyball team star Sharon Chepchumba (May) and WRC3 Safari Rally winner Maxine Wahome (June).
LG Electronics marketing director, Changhyun Kim congratulated Okutoyi for her fairy-tale feat saying: "she is an inspiration to countless other sports personalities hoping to make it big at the international level. It is that extra effort that has catapulted Okutoyi to fame.
“As a brand, LG will endeavour to encourage our sportsmen and women through these awards to raise the bar higher as a way of recognising their dedicated efforts in the lucrative industry. Okutoyi joins the growing list of junior international tennis stars,” Kim underscored.
SJAK President Chris Mbaisi thanked LG Electronics for their continued support towards the development of sport in the country by whipping up the enthusiasm of Kenyan athletes across the board.
